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June 5th, 1882.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
334
Miss Cranch has always had the reputation of
being a thorough artist and conscientious mu-
sician, but in her aria she proved a surprise even
to her most ardent admirers, and scored a grand
triumph, as was evidenced by the hearty applause
which she received.
The duo by Materna and Cary, which followed,
was unsurpassed, and we doubt if ever an audi-
ence heard it rendered by two such fearless artists
as sang it Wednesday afternoon. They were re-
called again and again and yet again. The Ball
Scene followed, by the orchestra, which closed
the performance.
And was not every one in that audience her will-
BALTIMORE.
ing subject, to whom she was as dear as a sister?
BALTIMORE, May 30.
They were determined she should sing again, and
applauded again and again, until finally a roll of r I ^HE Oratorio Concert on Friday, May 19, and
music was handed Thomas, and Cary reappeared, J. the rehearsal on the evening preceding, were
and the audience applauded again in their sup- oth great successes, and have undoubtedly added
aosed triumph over Thomas's obstinacy; but they
new stimulus to the culture of music in our
ivere mistaken. When all the rules of right and midst.
ourtesy demanded that the enthusiastic call for
Handel's "Israel in Egypt" was produced by
another song should be granted, he obstinately the Oratorio Society in an effective, and even re-
folded up the music and would not permit an en- markable manner.
\ore.
Our society participated in the production of
The programme wound up with Liszt's "Dante his
oratorio at the New York May Festival, but
Symphony,"
which
was
most
magnificently
ren-
WEDNESDAY EVENING'S CONCERT
dered by the orchestra and a chorus of female ,11 those who were present on that occasion as
came, and with it the same enthusiastic audience to voices, with Mrs. Osgood singing from the rear of .uditors, as well as on this, and who are competent
sit through the rendition of Baeh's Passion Music. the hall, her voice coming through the open door, to discriminate, give their opinion in favor of the
The central figure around which all the lesser lights bovethe music of orchestra and chorus, like a performance here.
revolved, is that of the Evangelist, sung by Candi- mnbeam breaking through a cloud during a The most difficult chorus, "The People Shall
Hear and Be Afraid," which is omitted when the
dus. The soloists were Materna, Cary, Candidus, torm.
Boston Handel and Haydn Society sing this ora-
Whitney, Remmertz, Henschel, and Sullivan, two The feature of
torio, and which was also omitted at the New
choruses, two orchestras, and a choir of boys. The
THE LAST EVENING PERFORMANCE
York Music Festival, was sung here, and with
principal part was sung by Candidus, and a longer
continued and more severe strain on the voice could was the prize composition, "Forty-sixth Psalm," astonishing effect.
hardly be imagined.
It is only natural that we should be enthusiastic
by Gilchrist.
our Oratorio Society, for there is no doubt
The range was high, very high, and it would
In this work the chorus sang with a spirit and about
seem that one must possess a phenomenal voice sparkle unexcelled in any of their previous per- hat it is a vocal body of excellent elements.
Prof. Fritz Fincke, a cultivated musician and a
even to attempt to carry the part through; how formances.
ionscientious gentleman, who left Europe only a
much more so to successfully accomplish the task,
The
introduction
to
the
choral
work
by
the
and render it, as he did, in an unexceptionable and orchestra is intensely religious in its character, in- few years ago, and who has heard many choruses
artistic and dramatic manner.
dicative of awe and reverence in approaching the n the "old country," is the director, and he
The singing of soloists and chorus was wonder- Divine Creator. This is followed by a full chorua, stated a few evenings ago at a public reception
that there was no chorus in Germany equal to the
ful, the attack firm, the intonation pure, and when, "God Is Our Refuge and Strength."
Chorus.
in response to Pilate's inquiry, the answer, "Ba
The work is extremely difficult, and in parts the Oratorio
rabbas!" came from the chorus, the effect was elec- tempo adopted by Thomas was so rapid as to ren- The attendance was very large, and undoubt-
trical.
der it almost impossible for the chorus to do jus- edly a handsome sum was realized, which will be
The entire rendition was remarkable, and the tice to the work and avoid running the notes to- added to the treasury of the society. I do not
audience sat entirely through it, not a person ether. Particularly was this the case in the "alle- think the society is in debt. Some of our mer-
leaving the hall until the last note was uttered.
gro molto," "The Heathen Rage," and it is stated chant princes and millionaire editors should an-
We are doubtful whether the taste which gave that Thomas was so exercised at this particular nounce a handsome gift to the society, to enable it
this work a place on the programme, was good. portion that when the ohorus had surmounted the to" build a hall for its concerts, instead of using a
Its character was entirely unsuited for such an mountain of difficulties it presented, his forehead military armory for the purpose.
It is the hope of a great many musical people
occasion, and its introduction smacks seriously of was covered with beads of perspiration.
that a modern choral work will fee put in re-
sacrilegiousness.
Mrs. Osgood sang the solo part, which ranges here
It is very heavy, and can never become a popu- high, and her clear, strong voice was never heard hearsal for next season. We are all decidedly
lar work, and it is improbable that it ever was or to better advantage. She has a magnificent voice, anxious to hear something composed by Rubin-
will ever again be so well rendered, and by such and is, beyond doubt, the finest oratorio soprano stein, or Saint-Saens, or Brahms, or one of the
an array of soloists and such a ohorus, as on this singer living. At the close of this work, its modern composers. Life is too short to be listen-
to Handel and Haydn all the time.
occasion.
author, Mr. Gilchrist, received an ovation from ing That
valuable document, the
A LAUGHABLE INCIDENT,
the audience, which must have been personally
very
flattering.
TEABODY CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC DIPLOMA,
which but fer Thomas might have become serious,
occurred in the Priest's duo, sung by Whitney Following came an overture by Brahms; then
"Ocean, Thou Mighty Monster," by Materna, has been awarded to Miss Hermine Hoen and Mr.
and Sullivan.
Sullivan, from some cause, lost his place, and in which she again displayed her marvelously Adam Itzel, Jr., for "theory, instrumentation, and
stopped completely, but Thomas sang for him dramatic composition, and at its close received musical composition."
until he recovered his self possession and cue, and another ovation, also a present from Mr. Julius During the many years that this institution has
Banthu in the shape of an egg of an emu, laid been in existence there has never been any diploma
went on again.
on the occasion of Materna's visit to the Zoological awarded for these branches until now.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON
Garden. The egg was beautifully mounted in sil
This fact inculpates every individual who has
ver and enclosed in red velvet, to be used as a anything to do with guiding the affairs of the
was devoted to Wagner, with Materna, Misses jewel
case.
Peabody Conservatory of Music. Diplomas for
Hitlich, Kopp, and Cranch, and Messrs. Candi
The last number on the evening programme, singing and piano playing have been awarded
dus, Henschel, Bemmertz and Toedt.
times, and it is a lamentable fact that those
In their various selections the soloists confirmed and of the Festival, was "The Fall of Troy," with many
who now possess these diplomas can neither sing
the favorable impression created by their previoui Materna, Mrs. Osgood, Miss Cranch, and Messrs. acceptably
nor play the piano with more than
Whitney, Candidus, Toedt, Remmertz, and Hen
performances.
ordinary ability.
schel.
THURSDAY EVENING
In this the work of the chorus, and the por- The diplomas- just awarded are therefore no
witnessed a short programme, but not the less trayal of fear, rage, and despair by Materna, as evidence of merit, and from personal knowledge
meritorious because short. It opened with Schu- Cassandra, was beyond comparison, and in the de- of one of the two instances, I know that there
bert's Ninth Symphony, by the orchestra, ia four scription of the wrath of Heaven descending in exists no tenable ground for issuing a diploma of
movements, in an even, ascending scale of excel- the shape of serpents devouring Laocoon, the excellence, or whatever it may be.
lence and beauty, until, listening to the perfect effect was thrilling and blood-curdling.
What can be the standard of excellence in an
playing of the orchestra, one seems at last to res
At the elose, Thomas thanked the chorus, and institution which, under the regime of the present
in the seventh heaven of joy and beauty.
announced another Festival two years hence; als musical director, Mr. Hamerick, and the ultro-
So perfect was the work of the orchestra tha that Mr. Mees, their hitherto indefatigable di conservative provost, Mr. Morrison (who, by the
way, is so ignorant of music that Mr. Hamerick
the audience applauded until Thomas, for the first rector, is to be continued in that position.
time in the course of the Festival, faced about and As a whole, the Festival has been a success. The himself is disgusted with his suggestions), could
bowed in acknowledgment.
chorus was the best ever heard here, and such an not produce more than two pupils in about eight
Eight here let me say that Thomas seems to array of soloists has never before been seen in or nine years who are able to pass an examina-
have a special spite against Cincinnati audiences, Cincinnati, and it seems impossible to again se< tion in "theory, instrumentation, and musical
composition."
their equals.
which he vents in refusing encores.
Whether there will be a festival in '84 is an open And what was the nature of this examination?
Several times in the course of the various after
noon and evening performances the audience de- question, which the directors can decide in th What questions, what examples were propounded?
The following officers of the conservatory were
sired to encore the artists, and the latter evidently affirmative if they choose. There are certain
wished to gratify the audience, yet Thomas phleg- grounds for complaint and dissatisfaction existing, present: Mr. Hamerick, Mr. Fincke, Prof. Cour-
matically ignored it all, while in New York h which it would be well for them to look into anc laender, Mr. Allen, Mr. Gaul, and Mme. Auerbach.
remove.
acted just the reverse.
Mme. Auerbach is not a composer, nor has she
Compared with the New York Festival, we think ever had experience in imparting lessons on in-
FRIDAY'S MATINEE,
strumentation or theory. She is only an excellent
the balance is in our favor.
among other things, brought Cary's farewell, am
The chorus and orchestra were not so large pianist. Mr. Courlaender and Mr. Allen are
it seemed to the Cincinnati people that they wer< neither was the hall so large, nor possessed o: piano teachers, and Mr. Gaul is a violin teacher.
bidding a long, last farewell to a dear and love such poor acoustic properties. The execution o: Not one of the three gentlemen has ever composed
one upon whom they should never look again.
the chorus was far better than that in New York anything of permanent value.
Mr. Hamerick and Mr. Fincke are the only two
She sang "Che Faro Seuza Eurydice" as she and every cote could be heard in the farthes'
never did before. Each note was uttered in an seats in the gallery and away out under the bal who understand anything on the subjects referred
to, and Mr. Hamerick is the only one who instructed
impassioned manner, as though she were reluctant cony.
to let it pass her lips, and as if she would prolong
Taken as a whole, nothing yet given has ap the two pupils, and it took him eight years to do
her last appearance to the last moment. How sh proached our Festival in artistic execution, clas it.
sang! The audience sat as one entranced, and as sical programmes, and in the excellence and esprx It is even hinted that no questions were asked
she uttered the last note, bowing her farewell, such du corps of the chorus. The May Festival of '8 by any one but Mr. Hamerick, and as these must
an ovation was tendered her as a queen might is past, but its memory will long remain with Cin have been the very questions which he used in
envy and desire from her subjects.
course of his destruction—oh, I beg pardon, m-
cinnati.
Yours,
JOHN DOUBLE U.